The most recent drilling was designed to target zones along strike from the Arroyos Azules Zone which is the first area scheduled for mining as part of the planned re-start of operations later this year. The drilling continues to show the high-grade potential of the Aranzazu Project ore body.

It is of interest to note the continued intercepts of higher than average grade gold in drilling progressively along strike to the east of the Arroyos Azules Zone. These better than average values for gold will add to overall project economics as only 51% of the drill holes as part of the recent National Instrument 43-101 report were assayed for gold. The weighted average for gold of all of these recent results is 1.16 g/t Au versus the Measured and Indicated resource average of 0.40 g/t Au at the same 0.5% Cu cut-off (see News Release #2009-15, dated November 2, 2009). Also of importance is the continuity of the overall mineralized system being confirmed along strike and extended down-dip. In that regard, the Company has now mobilized a rig capable of drilling the planned deep drill holes and drilling will commence later this month. This drilling will test the down-dip potential of the ore body and the strike extent beyond the current resource boundaries as part of an overall plan to investigate the potential to develop a much larger operation at the Aranzazu Project.

Commenting on the above, Mr. Patrick Downey, President and CEO of Aura Minerals, stated, "The Aranzazu Project continues to return excellent drill results. The grade and widths continue to meet our expectations and we are very encouraged by the significantly higher gold grades. We now look forward to the deeper drilling which will help determine the potential of the Aranzazu Project ore body which is open in all directions."

Table 1 – Aranzazu Assays (see Map 1 below)

Hole #

East

North

Azimuth(degrees)

Dip (degrees)

From (metres)

To (metres)

Interval(1) (metres)

Cu (2)(4) (%)

Au (3) (g/t)

Ag (3) (g/t)

AZC-065

254104

2724034

209

-50

69.0

77.3

8.3

0.86

1.50

11.7

AZC-066

254192

2724079

218

-69

128.0

137.0

9.0

0.91

1.02

25.5

AZC-069

253832

2724335

221

-53

301.5

307.5

6.0

0.53

0.06

2.6

AZC-069

253832

2724335

221

-53

315.0

322.5

7.5

0.77

0.17

9.3

AZC-069

253832

2724335

221

-53

379.5

394.5

15.0

2.97

0.81

40.2

AZC-070

253985

2724121

209

-47

133.5

150.0

16.5

2.36

2.36

21.5

AZC-071

253986

2724122

208

-55

67.5

72.0

4.5

0.51

0.44

5.0

AZC-071

253986

2724122

208

-55

129.0

132.0

3.0

1.74

0.58

24.7

AZC-071

253986

2724122

208

-55

147.0

169.5

22.5

1.79

1.95

18.0

AZC-071

253986

2724122

208

-55

177.0

196.5

19.5

0.65

0.73

9.8

AZC-075

254097

2724113

211

-66

238.5

255.0

16.5

1.25

1.57

14.8

AZC-076

254142

2724093

209

-53

43.5

46.5

3.0

1.08

0.28

13.6

AZC-076

254142

2724093

209

-53

91.5

94.5

3.0

0.81

0.58

25.6

AZC-076

254142

2724093

209

-53

156.0

160.5

4.5

0.72

0.67

22.6

AZC-076

254142

2724093

209

-53

184.5

211.5

27.0

1.70

1.90

17.3

AZC-077

253785

2724323

222

-57

249.0

256.5

7.5

0.74

0.30

15.4

AZC-077

253785

2724323

222

-57

295.5

301.5

6.0

1.03

0.24

10.1

AZC-077

253785

2724323

222

-57

322.5

327.0

4.5

0.53

0.10

5.9

AZC-077

253785

2724323

222

-57

340.5

352.5

12.0

0.91

0.29

9.8

AZC-078

254209

2724059

218

-56

91.5

94.5

3.0

0.97

1.30

9.5

AZC-078

254209

2724059

218

-56

193.5

199.5

6.0

1.91

0.76

20.1

AZC-078

254209

2724059

218

-56

207.0

216.0

9.0

0.90

0.72

10.3

AZC-078

254209

2724059

218

-56

225.0

232.5

7.5

0.54

0.38

6.5

AZR-041

254234

2724154

207

-47

175.3

182.9

7.6

1.44

0.62

31.4

AZR-041

254234

2724154

207

-47

274.3

281.9

7.6

1.19

2.44

23.4

AZR-041

254234

2724154

207

-47

291.1

315.5

24.4

2.10

1.50

23.6

AZR-042

254095

2724110

209

-61

42.7

45.7

3.0

0.56

0.23

46.7

AZR-042

254095

2724110

209

-61

178.3

207.3

29.0

0.95

1.46

11.6

AZR-045

254351

2724003

212

-45

100.6

106.7

6.1

0.81

0.71

20.1

AZR-045

254351

2724003

212

-45

221.0

225.6

4.6

5.88

3.03

66.8

AZR-046

254328

2724014

207

-50

102.1

106.7

4.6

1.52

0.75

18.3

AZR-046

254328

2724014

207

-50

126.5

134.1

7.6

0.96

1.54

14.1

AZR-046

254328

2724014

207

-50

196.6

210.3

13.7

0.65

0.48

11.9

AZR-046

254328

2724014

207

-50

225.6

246.9

21.3

1.38

1.12

24.0

AZR-049

254069

2724118

213

-44

50.3

61.0

10.7

0.50

0.20

2.0

AZR-049

254069

2724118

213

-44

76.2

89.9

13.7

0.81

0.14

3.2

AZR-050

254454

2724033

210

-43

176.8

196.6

19.8

0.80

1.19

13.8

AZR-050

254454

2724033

210

-43

281.9

285.0

3.1

1.54

1.00

19.2

AZR-051

254469

2724060

212

-50

216.4

231.7

15.2

0.56

0.57

10.0

AZR-051

254469

2724060

212

-50

240.8

243.8

3.1

0.69

0.53

12.9

AZR-051

254469

2724060

212

-50

254.5

263.7

9.1

0.56

0.52

6.9

AZR-051

254469

2724060

212

-50

346.0

368.8

22.9

2.01

2.71

25.1

true width has yet to be determined

using a copper cutoff grade 0.5%

fire assay and atomic absorption finish

atomic absorption ("AA")

Qualified Person

Exploration at the Aranzazu Project is being
conducted under the supervision of Mr. Alan Hitchborn, P.Geo., who is the
Company's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Hitchborn has also
reviewed and approved the contents of this news release as applicable.

Quality Assurance and
Quality Control ("QA/QC") Procedures for the Aranzazu Project

Aura Minerals is presently drilling at
the Aranzazu Project utilizing both core and reverse circulation drill rigs.
The drilling is conducted
by Layne de Mexico. The reverse circulation drill uses a bit sized from 5.5
inches to 4.75 inches. The core program utilizes HQ-sized core and then
stepping down to NQ-sized core as required. Samples are collected on a 1.5
metre sample interval. The reverse circulation drill cuttings are split at the
drill rig. The samples collected consist of an approximate 25% split of the total
material recovered from the interval sampled. This material is shipped directly
to the Stewart Group de Mexico ("Stewart Mexico") sample preparation facility
in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same sample preparation
protocol as used for the core samples discussed below. Assays are completed at
the ISO 9001-2008 certified
Eco Tech
Laboratory Limited ("Eco Tech Stewart"), a subsidiary of the Stewart Group
Ltd., in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Diamond drilling core is logged,
photographed and then split in half using a diamond core saw. Half the core is
retained off-site in a secure storage facility and the other half is sampled,
secured in sealed, labeled bags and then transported to the Stewart Mexico
facility in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same preparation
protocol discussed below. Assays are completed at the Eco Tech Stewart
laboratory in Kamloops, B.C. The entire half-core and reverse circulation drill
cuttings are crushed to 95% passing 2 millimetres, split and pulverized to 95%
passing 150 mesh, split again, and a 150 gram sample sent for assay. Gold
assays are determined by fire assay with an AA finish, over limit assays are
determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver assays are
determined by three acid digestion with an AA finish, over limits are
determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. All samples are analyzed by
inductively coupled plasma emission spectrography for multi-element analysis
and by AA for copper. The Company systematically inserts certified standard
samples, sample duplicates in a non-sequential order and blank samples in all
batches of samples sent to Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart as a means of
quality control. Additionally, Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart has its own
stringent internal QA/QC protocols. Check samples are systematically sent to
the ALS Chemex lab in Vancouver, Canada. Chain of custody of drill samples is
maintained throughout the process with the use of numbered seal tags closing
sample bags and third party professional transportation of samples to the
laboratories. Each stage of sample handling is recorded in log sheets and
receipts obtained from each party involved.

About Aura Minerals Inc.

Aura Minerals is a Canadian resource company
focused on the acquisition, exploration and development and operation of gold
and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company's portfolio includes the
San Andres Gold Mine in Honduras, the Aranzazu Copper-Gold-Silver Project in
Mexico, and the feasibility-stage Serrote Deposit at the Arapiraca
Copper-Gold-Iron Ore Project in Brazil. In addition, the Company has agreed to
acquire the producing Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente Gold Mines in Brazil,
subject to regulatory approvals.

Cautionary Statement:

This news release contains forward-looking
statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results,
performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include
those risks set out in Aura Minerals' public documents filed on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Although Aura Minerals believes that the assumptions and factors
used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of
this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in
the disclosed time frames or at all. Aura Minerals disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.